title: Functional characterization of ion permeation pathway in the N-type Ca2+ channel.
abstract: Multiple types of high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels, including L-, N-, P-, Q- and R-types have been distinguished from each other mainly employing pharmacological agents that selectively block particular types of Ca2+ channels. Except for the dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels, electrophysiological characterization has yet to be conducted thoroughly enough to biophysically distinguish the remaining Ca2+ channel types. In particular, the ion permeation properties of N-type Ca2+ channels have not been clarified, although the kinetic properties of both the L- and N-type Ca2+ channels are relatively well described. To establish ion conducting properties of the N-type Ca2+ channel, we examined a homogeneous population of recombinant N-type Ca2+ channels expressed in baby hamster kidney cells, using a conventional whole cell patch-clamp technique. The recombinant N-type Ca2+ channel, composed of the alpha1B, alpha2a, and beta1a subunits, displayed high-voltage-activated Ba2+ currents elicited by a test pulse more positive than -30 mV, and were strongly blocked by the N-type channel blocker omega-conotoxin-GVIA. In the presence of 110 mM Ba2+, the unitary current showed a slope conductance of 18.2 pS, characteristic of N-type channels. Ca2+ and Sr2+ resulted in smaller ion fluxes than Ba2+, with the ratio 1.0:0. 72:0.75 of maximum conductance in current-voltage relationships of Ba2+, Ca2+, and Sr2+ currents, respectively. In mixtures of Ba2+ and Ca2+, where the Ca2+ concentration was steadily increased in place of Ba2+, with the total concentration of Ba2+ and Ca2+ held constant at 3 mM, the current amplitude went through a clear minimum when 20% of the external Ba2+ was replaced by Ca+2. This anomalous mole fraction effect suggests an ion-binding site where two or more permeant ions can sit simultaneously. By using an external solution containing 110 mM Na+ without polyvalent cations, inward Na+ currents were evoked by test potentials more positive than -50 mV. These currents were activated and inactivated in a kinetic manner similar to that of Ba2+ currents. Application of inorganic Ca2+ antagonists blocked Ba2+ currents through N-type channels in a concentration-dependent manner. The rank order of inhibition was La3+ >/= Cd2+ >> Zn2+ > Ni2+ >/= Co2+. When a short strong depolarization was applied before test pulses of moderate depolarizing potentials, relief from channel blockade by La3+ and Cd2+ and subsequent channel reblocking was observed. The measured rate (2 x 10(8) M-1 s-1) of reblocking approached the diffusion-controlled limit. These results suggest that N-type Ca2+ channels share general features of a high affinity ion-binding site with the L-type Ca2+ channel, and that this site is easily accessible from the outside of the channel pore.
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakamori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strobeck
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niidome
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teramoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney; D007700:Kinetics; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D013324:Strontium / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D010455:Peptides; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013111:Spider Venoms; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA; D001464:Barium; D009553:Nimodipine; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA; D002118:Calcium; D013324:Strontium